Covington's SWAT team surrouded a home on West 31st Avenue early Monday morning and arrested a man accused of breaking into the house and shooting at one of its residents.

A 12-year-old boy flagged down a newspaper carrier outside the Quick Stop on N. Columbia St. about 3 a.m. and told her his mother woke him up and screamed for him to get out of the house, Covington Police spokesman Capt. Jack West said. The carrier called police, who found the boy's mother, Tammy Miller, and her 2-year-old son outside the boy's house at 616 W. 31st Ave., West said.

Jamal Harrison

Miller, 34, told police 22-year-old Jamal Harrison had broken into her home and shot her boyfriend, West said. She said the two men were still inside fighting, he said.

The SWAT team was called and began to surround the home as Miller's boyfriend, 25-year-old Brian Wright, staggered outside covered in blood, West said.

Officers initially thought Wright had been shot, but after he was taken to St. Tammany Parish Hospital by Acadian Ambulance they learned the blood came from cuts sustained during the fight, West said. Those injuries included a serious cut on the head from being "pistol-whipped" by Harrison, West said.

Harrison followed Wright out of the house and initially began walking toward police as if he was going to turn himself in, West said. However, he "cut and ran" before being chased down and arrested by officers, he said.

Police believe the attack was premeditated, though they do not yet have a specific motive, West said.

While investigating the case Monday, officers found that Wright was in possession of several bags of marijuana, West said. He was booked into St. Tammany Parish jail in Covington with possession of drugs with intent to distribute.

Officers have gone to the home in the past in response to alleged drug-dealing from the residence, he said.

Harrison has had previous run-ins with Covington Police, but those incidents were "minor charges, nothing that would indicate a crime like this," West said.